ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - Presidential candidate Stipe Mesic told reporters in Zagreb on Wednesday his campaign would continue correctly, despite announcements of fierce campaigning from counter-candidate Drazen Budisa. Mesic said he
wanted correct co-operation with the new government, and refuted media speculation which claimed he wanted to keep the powers late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman had. "Our campaign will be absolutely correct and we will go on with our messages," said Mesic, adding he did not want to bother about others' projects. He said he would continue talking to citizens around Croatia, but pointed out he was also willing for direct confrontations with Budisa. Asserting he wanted correct co-operation with the government, Mesic expressed hope to soon meet the new prime minister because, he said, it was the only way to keep the promises the "Opposition Six" party coalition mad
ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - Presidential candidate Stipe Mesic told
reporters in Zagreb on Wednesday his campaign would continue
correctly, despite announcements of fierce campaigning from
counter-candidate Drazen Budisa.
Mesic said he wanted correct co-operation with the new government,
and refuted media speculation which claimed he wanted to keep the
powers late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman had.
"Our campaign will be absolutely correct and we will go on with our
messages," said Mesic, adding he did not want to bother about
others' projects. He said he would continue talking to citizens
around Croatia, but pointed out he was also willing for direct
confrontations with Budisa.
Asserting he wanted correct co-operation with the government,
Mesic expressed hope to soon meet the new prime minister because, he
said, it was the only way to keep the promises the "Opposition Six"
party coalition made before winning the January 3 parliamentary
elections.
Mesic expects correct co-operation from the other side as well. He
said his election as Croatia's new president at the February 7 run-
off would not aggravate co-operation within the "Opposition Six".
Mesic will advocate a parliamentary system in which parliament will
be autonomous and the headquarters of democratic decision-making.
He also wants an autonomous government which will work only in
keeping with regulations passed by parliament. If elected
president, Mesic said he would keep only those powers granted him by
parliament.
Responding to recent accusations in a section of the media which
stated that he collaborated with Yugoslav intelligence services,
Mesic reiterated he had spent 15 years asking Yugoslav authorities
to issue him with a passport.
Given that he was repeatedly turned down, Mesic complained and was
summoned for talks at the then Secretariat for Internal Affairs.
Mesic says those conversations are now being used to discredit him
in the presidential run-off, which he believes is the Croatian
intelligence services' reaction to his announcement that he would
reduce and depoliticise them.
Commenting on Croatian general Ljubo Cesic-Rojs' announcement that
he would sue Mesic for slander, Mesic said the suit was Cesic-Rojs'
civil right and added he would not exercise immunity.
(hina) ha mm